Tuesday, December 8

the tree

Are you aware that this is my 300th post? I know you were counting. However, I didn't think of anything cool to do, so instead I bring you a tale about a Christmas tree. I have one very firm belief on the subject of Christmas trees, and that is that the tree MUST be real. I am immovable on the matter. However, my beliefs as to how and where the tree is acquired are shaky and go to the highest bidder, or lowest as was the case this year.

In an ideal world, we would go out to the woods with our snow boots and saw and hot chocolate and find the perfect tree, chop it down and bring it home. In a next to ideal world we would go to a tree farm that simulates the woods, where we can still pick out the perfect tree, and someone else would cut it for us. But in our current world, we went to our local Smith's Marketplace to find a tree. Awesome, huh?

Last year also wasn't ideal, and we also went to Smith's. While there I threw a fit about the tree Jeremy made me get because it was small and cheap. I wanted a tall, beautiful tree, but those cost. And last year was not an ideal year. This year is even less ideal, so as we headed out the door I told Jeremy, "This time I won't complain, I want whatever is cheap." But oh boy, had I realized last year, what we'd get this year, I may not have complained.

For days prior to getting our tree Alexis kept saying "I want to get two trees, my size." My reply was always that we would get one tree, and she would ask if it could still be her size. The emotional part of me thought how ridiculous it would be to make our one and only Christmas tree as small as her, but the logical side of me knew that it very possibly could be--because those are cheap. Said I left her with a "maybe", hoping that it would probably not be.

As soon as we got to Smith's Marketplace Alexis found her perfect tree, and it happened to be about two and a half feet tall. As she stood by admiring it, I walked down the aisle looking at trees. But her's was cheaper, and she wanted it so so so badly. Then Jeremy pointed at a tree next to it, about a foot and a half taller, and said, "What about this one, it's the same price as the short one". It was a cute tree, but it was so little. Neither Alexis nor I were convinced, but Jeremy did some fast talking and won Alexis over. It was still about as big as her, she could still reach to put the star on top, and she was still so excited, and that won me over to.

When the guys asked if we wanted that tree I couldn't help but laugh, and I've hardly stopped laughing since. The thought that our tree is as tall as our kids (though slightly taller when in the stand) is hilarious to me. The fact that it only took us two minutes to pick out a tree, because there were no others it's same size to compare it to, is hilarious to me. And as we left the store I was in fits laughing at the family that had brought several different trees in front of the bright light so they could inspect all sides of them to find the best one. Is it funny to anyone else? I don't know. But I stood there thinking, "really, this is our tree? This is as good as it gets this year?"

Then Jeremy tried to convince me to buy a $10 stand to put it in because our other one was too big, and I laughed even more. Doesn't that defeat the point of buying a cheap tree?? I let him buy the stand, but made him promise to try and put the tree in our other stand first. Like a good husband he did it, and I can return the other stand!

Finally the tree was brought into the house and we were left to determine where to put it. As a joke Jeremy suggested we put it in the middle of the room, but it was even funnier when we discovered we actually could and it wouldn't even be in the way! But we didn't. Jeremy wanted to put it on a little table we have in there, but I refused. That is just too pathetic. Or is it more pathetic that it barely reached past the window in which it is displayed in? Jeremy insisted on putting two strands of lights on it, but it could have gotten by just fine with only one.

And Alexis. Oh, Alexis is so happy. She danced around the room making up Christmas songs and making plans for that little tree. And then she put the star on top, simply by standing on a little stool, all by herself. And to see so much excitement come from her won me over to the ways of the small tree. Now I love it (but next year I may want a big tree).

So to summarize, here are the benefits of a tiny small tree, even if all the big trees are making fun of it.

1. It is incredibly easy to decorate (though we haven't yet put up ornaments, I hope it has enough room for all of them).2. It's cute.3. It will make it look as though we have more presents than we actually do.4. It doesn't take a lot of water, but it still smells great.5. It makes the kids really really happy.6. If it gets knocked over it can't really do any damage.7. It makes me laugh every time I look at it.8. It came from Oregon, like me, and you can't get that in the woods of Utah.

So, if you come over you can make fun of our tree if you'd like, but I'll just laugh at you. And if you are in need of a good laugh, then come on over.

I, like you, always insist on a real tree. It wouldn't be Christmas to me without that real tree smell. We just decorated our tree tonight. At least 75% of our ornaments ended up on the bottom few branches of the tree. I was going to redecorate after the kids were in bed, but now I'm debating that. Every time I look at our unevenly decorated tree it makes me smile. So I may just end up leaving it like it is. Everyone already knows that I'm no Martha Stewart anyway :) I think that it is awesome that you guys went with the little tree this year. We would have been wise to do the same (although we did get a pretty good deal this year).

You guys are awesome, and I'm totally laughing right now, not at your tree, of course, it's beautiful, just at, well maybe the tree. The one positive about fake trees is that if you buy a little fake one, then your kids will have a small one forever and be happy about it and you can get a big one for yourself. Jackson and Hayden have our fake one from when were were first married. But I'm glad that Alexis is so happy about her tree. Kids show us so much, it's not the size of the tree that matters, just that it makes you happy...and that you have one. :)

So, the picture makes me laugh... with Alexis bending over right next to the tree is looks bigger than it probably is. But, with Tyler in the forground it looks super tiny compared to him. I'm guessing it is right inbetween. What a fun Chrstmas memory.."The year we got the four foot tree!" It looks super cute, and I'm with Jeremy, it needed both strands!

I, too, like the real trees...until we had a spider sack hatch a bunch of tiny spiders...that ended up all over my ceiling one morning. That's when we bought a big fake tree. (Go figure.) I still want a real one again some day...just gotta get over the fear of those spiders first!Good work! It looks great...and it's a great story to remember! :)